Ferguson slams linesman after Rooney denied penalty at Tottenham

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson gas blasted official Simon Beck after he failed to award Wayne Rooney a clear penalty as Tottenham came from behind to snatch a late equaliser at White Hart Lane.

United looked to be heading for three Premier League points when Robin van Persie scored before the break but Clint Dempsey found a stoppage-time equaliser to deny Ferguson’s men.

Ferguson singled out Beck for criticism after Dempsey’s late goal prevented United restoring their seven-point lead over Manchester City.

“It was a clear penalty kick,” he said.

“I think he had a shocking game today.

“I’m disappointed in his performance, I really am. I think he had a bad game.”

This was not the first time Ferguson has had a high-profile disagreement with Beck.

In 2010 the United manager was furious when Beck allowed Didier Drogba to score from an offside position as Chelsea won at Old Trafford to take control of the title race.

On this occasion, Rooney went down after a challenge by Spurs defender Steven Caulker midway through the second half and Ferguson was angry Beck did not flag for a foul.

“I am disappointed with him – we have not had a good record with him,” Ferguson said:

“With Chelsea a couple of years back, he gave onside to Didier Drogba and he was three yards offside. You remember these things because it is [in] important games and that was an important game today.

“It was a clear decision. And he was 10 yards away, maybe 12 yards away from the incident and he doesn’t give it. And yet he gave everything else.”

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas was unsure whether Caulker had caught Rooney, but did not want the argument to overshadow what he described as a tremendous performance.

“Obviously it is going to be debated and debated and I hope it doesn’t mar the game,” he said.

“During the game we got most of the decisions against us. I prefer to look at this game on my view and United prefer to look at it on their view.”

While United lead City by five points, this was an opportunity missed, according to Ferguson.

“We have done so well in everything,” he added.

“They kept pumping the ball in the penalty box and we kept heading it out – my disappointment is not finishing them off.

“We had about half a dozen opportunities on the counter-attack to do that but our final ball let us down.

Ferguson did reserve some praise for Spurs as the home team bombarded the United goal after the break.”You’re 1-0 up with a minute to go and we’re comfortable at that stage,” he added.

“But Tottenham have worked their socks off and you have to give them credit. You can’t deny them a point because they’ve worked ever so hard for it.